Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated Acts(1) This section applies during the bereavement period if the rate of pension applicable to the pensioner as a result of the partner's death is less than the sum of the rates of pension or social security pension that were payable to the pensioner and the partner on the last day of the last pension period that ended before the partner died.
(2) Pension continues to be payable to the pensioner during the bereavement period at the rate at which it was payable immediately before the partner's death.
(3) The rate of pension that, apart from subsection (2), would be applicable in respect of the pensioner as a result of the partner's death applies with effect from the day after the end of the bereavement period.
(4) There is payable to the pensioner, for each day in the bereavement period, a bereavement payment calculated at the rate of the pension or social security pension that was payable to the partner on the last day of the last pension period that ended before the partner died.
(5) All or any of the bereavement payments payable to the pensioner under subsection (4) may be paid in advance in a lump sum.
(6) This section has effect despite subsection 38C(2) but is subject to sections 53M and 53NAA.